Pop culture has sold the world happiness wrapped in the garments of beauty, wealth and popularity, laments Speaking Louder Ministries

Speaking Louder Ministries is declaring the hope of Jesus Christ. (Facebook/Speaking Louder Ministries)

Damian Velarde from Speaking Louder Ministries is lamenting "the destructive lie" at the heart of today's pop culture.

He says that the pop industry has sold the world an artificial happiness "wrapped in the garments of beauty, wealth and popularity".

Writing in the ministry's blog, Velarde said that the world is now unravelling the deep levels of hopelessness and brokenness of mankind, and yet people are still searching for the solution in all the wrong places. Instead of pursuing happiness in the Creator, people have been looking for it in the creation.

"It's pseudo-happiness at the expense of one's soul," he said. "As it turns out, the further we pursue happiness, the more broken we become and the more calloused our hearts grow. The pursuit of happiness, however, is not the problem."

The more people seek for happiness in creation, the more broken people's lives become and the more they wallow in hopelessness. But Velarde stressed that there is still hope.

In death and darkness, the light of Christ shines even more brightly. "The saddening reality is that we are all slaves in need of good news. The good news that we are all in need of is news of deliverance," he said.

God's word does just that - delivers people from hopelessness and brings them joy. Velarde added that God's word changes a life forever, as Jesus came into this world to take the fate of mankind and died for man's sins.

"He lays down His life so that we might have life. The righteousness that God requires can only come from God through Jesus Christ, by faith in the finished work of Christ. Only then do we experience the joy, happiness and satisfaction that we were created to experience," he said.

News
10 crimes a day against UK churches, reports Countryside Alliance
10 crimes a day against UK churches, reports Countryside Alliance

Thousands of crimes were committed against church properties in 2025, the Countryside Alliance has reported. 

The rise of 'full-fat' Christianity?
The rise of 'full-fat' Christianity?

Even if the "Quiet Revival" report has been discredited, many Christians still agree that something still seems to be going on.

Paramedic who secretly administered abortion drugs to lover is struck off
Paramedic who secretly administered abortion drugs to lover is struck off

It is not the first time a man has secretly administered abortion drugs to a pregnant girlfriend.

Quoting the Bible from space
Quoting the Bible from space

Recently, Christian astronaut Victor Glover was reminded of the memorable Christmas Eve reading from Genesis on Apollo 8 in 1968, and he was asked to give an Easter message from Artemis II. This is the story …